One run has been the story of the Durango High School baseball season.
The Demons fell to 1-6 overall Wednesday with a 4-3 loss to Ponderosa. Of the Demons’ six losses, five have come by one run. The team’s one win also came by one run.
Playing at the field at Metropolitan State University-Denver, Durango put up three runs in the top of the first inning but never pushed another run across home plate the rest of the game. Ponderosa (6-1) scored two runs in both the bottom of the first and second innings and closed out the win in seven innings from there.
“Incredible,” DHS head coach Eric Baker said of the one-run games. “We had opportunities. We got after their starter pretty good, scored three early. The next inning, we had a few runners on and they brought in a lefty that came in and did a job. He really buckled down when he needed to.”
Peyton Woolverton was 2-for-4 with a double, one run batted in and a run scored for Durango, which had 10 hits, three walks and one batter hit by a pitch. Gavin Mestas also went 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored. Ryen Genauldi was 2-for-2 with a walk. Max Hyson went 1-for-4 with an RBI-double.
Baker said the team is working to play aggressive and find ways to score more runs, but he said they need to find a way to string more hits together and work a few more walks.
Tyler Ruetschle pitched a complete game for the Demons. He allowed four runs – two earned – on three hits and four walks. He struck out five.
“He was outstanding,” Baker said of his pitcher. “He’s pitched unbelievably well so far this year. Everybody is sick we can’t get him some wins. He sure has earned them.”
Durango will play again at 2 p.m. Thursday at Fountain-Fort Carson.
Without a few players, the Durango High School girls tennis team still put on an impressive display in wins against Paonia and Vail Mountain.
The Demons traveled to Grand Junction and defeated both teams 6-1, with the lone losses coming at No. 4 doubles, which the Demons scratched because of the missing players.
With the No. 1 singles player out and girls missing from No. 1 and No. 4 doubles, the rest of the players moved up a level or two on the DHS roster.
It was no trouble for Maggie Hackett at No. 1 singles, as she beat Paonia’s McKenna Erickson 6-1, 6-0 before defeating Vail Mountain’s No. 1 singles player 6-0, 7-5.
Emma Hackett played at No. 2 singles and defeated Paonia’s Kelsey Stroud 6-3, 6-1 before facing a three-set battle with Vail Mountain. She defeated her competition 3-6, 6-2, 10-4.
“Emma’s (Vail Mountain) player was a hard-hitter, but Emma played tough and took her to three sets, coming out ahead,” DHS assistant coach Sue Lawton said.
Lily Chick had a great day at No. 3 singles. She’s quickly moved up from No. 4 doubles a year ago and has played No. 1 doubles this year. This time, she played singles. Chick earned a nice 6-2, 6-2 victory against Paonia’s Emily Wilczek before facing the toughest match any Demon player had all weekend. Chick defeated her Vail Mountain opponent 6-2, 7-5.
“Most games had several deuce points, with the point going back and forth between players several times, finally ending as it began to rain,” Lawton said. “The match took more than two hours, and Lily’s strong competitive nature never cracked.”
Jenna Engelken and Emily West paired up at No. 1 doubles. They defeated Paonia’s Kamby Hall and Ashley Ziemer 6-1, 6-1. They also earned a 6-0, 7-5 win against Vail Mountain.
Ruby Decora and Emma Jaber partnered at No. 2 doubles for DHS to beat Paonia 6-4, 6-2 and Vail Mountain 6-0, 4-6, 10-7.
It was Rebecca Bowers and Camille Jacobs, two first-year DHS tennis players, at No. 3 doubles. They defeated Paonia’s Jackie Mora and Jay Phillips 6-0, 6-2 and Vail Mountain’s team 6-4, 6-3.
“I am so impressed with the strength in our individual players and our ability to compete as a team,” Lawton said. “Our returning players have improved over the year, have successfully claimed new positions on the team and are playing and winning.”
DHS will have home matches April 7-8.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
